Injury Questions Continue Into The Off-Season

Chuck Hixson

01/03/2006

The Eagles season was shrouded in problems due mainly to key injuries. Even headed into the off-season, many of those injuries remain unresolved, leaving plenty of question marks about who will be where for 2006.

There is no doubt that one of the key issues regarding the Eagles this
off-season will be at wide receiver. Perhaps, if Todd Pinkston were healthy in
2005 and able to play, the Eagles would have an easier decision to make. The
controversy is can Pinkston be the top receiver for the Eagles or do they need
to add a free agent or a number one receiver through a trade. Had Pinkston - who
is currently number one on the depth chart by default - played this season, he
would have been able to show on the field whether or not he had the stuff to be
the number one receiver. Instead, the Eagles must decide whether he can handle
the job and must also determine how healthy he'll be coming into camp.

Pinkston, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon that he suffered
in training camp, said recently that he may not be able for mini-camp, but
should be able to go when the Eagles report to Lehigh for their full camp.
Although Pinkston is confident, there are no guarantees that he'll be ready and
that he'll be 100%. That would cast a further doubt on whether or not he could
rise to the occasion to be the Eagles featured receiver. Since right behind
Pinkston is rookie Reggie Brown, the Eagles may look to add a top flight
receiver who they are sure can handle the number one receiver duties and give
the Eagles some semblance of what they had with Terrell Owens.

As for who will throw the ball to Pinkston, Donovan McNabb should be okay by
training camp. Whether or not he'll be showing any ill effects of the surgery to
repair a sports hernia remains to be seen, but McNabb should be able to return
to form for next season. Even though he's set to return, his injury put a very
bright spotlight on the fact that the Eagles need to find better alternatives
than Mike McMahon and Koy Detmer. The name Kurt Warner has been thrown around,
but Warner may look for a situation where he would be closer to being in a
starting position. Of course, with various injuries throughout his career, there
are some questions about McNabb's durability, so Warner may be interested.

Then, there's the running back spot. Brian Westbrook will be healthy for next
season, so he returns to be their number one back. With the emergence of Bruce Perry and Ryan Moats, the Eagles may have some decisions to make and one will
regard Correll Buckhalter. Does Buckhalter return from an injury to take over as
the number two back or does Perry and/or Moats move up the depth chart.
Buckhalter suffered his second major knee injury in the last three years in
training camp and it's likely that the Eagles won't bring him back since they
have other options. Keep in mind though that Andy Reid loves Buckhalter and may
look to keep him in the mix.

How much did the Eagles miss Jerome McDougle? He would have been a huge part
of the defensive line that struggled so much for the Eagles this past season.
McDougle was shot in the abdomen just prior to training camp last summer and
missed the entire season. The latest report is that he's putting some of the
weight that he lost after the shooting and returning to shape. He hopes to be in
mini-camp and if not, he figures to be ready to go with the full squad when
training camp starts. Trent Cole and Mike Patterson emerged on the defensive
line, but Jevon Kearse didn't show himself to be the dominant player that the
Eagles are looking for him to be. Defensive End N.D. Kalu may exit the Eagles
and there is likely to at least be some shifting and possibly the addition of a
player or two to compete for spots on the defensive line.

In the defensive backfield, J.R. Reed missed the entire season after
suffering nerve damage in his leg. Odds are that he won't return in '06 either.
On Monday, Andy Reid called Reed's return a "struggle" and said that he didn't
figure on him being able to help.

The Eagles know that most of their injured players should be able to return,
but there are always question marks about how well those players will return.
Injuries like a sports hernia, ruptured Achilles tendons and gunshot wounds can
take a toll on a body and the Eagles must admit to having at least some
questions about those players or at least about who will take over in their spot
if they're not able to return to the level of play that the birds expected
before their injuries.